Britain's Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, recently resigned from his position. He had previously announced his intention to step down in the next UK government cabinet reshuffle. His departure marks the end of an 18-year-long career in the UK parliament, making him the longest-serving Conservative defence secretary since Winston Churchill.
Reports suggest that Grant Shapps, currently serving as the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, is poised to succeed Wallace. Shapps was seen arriving at the 10 Downing Street office, hinting at his potential appointment. In a letter addressed to Wallace, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his admiration for Wallace's dedication and skill in his role. Wallace had played a pivotal role in coordinating Western allies' support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
Sunak acknowledged Wallace's exceptional service to the country and credited him with recognizing Vladimir Putin's true intentions in Ukraine before many others did. He highlighted Wallace's determination to provide Kyiv with crucial weaponry before the Russian invasion, which significantly bolstered Ukraine's ability to defend itself.
Ben Wallace, a former army officer and a close ally of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, had been the UK's choice to succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General. However, he encountered a setback when he failed to secure crucial backing from the United States for the position. As a result, Jens Stoltenberg extended his term as the head of the alliance.
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Wallace's decision to resign in July was not driven by pessimism about the Conservative Party's chances in the next election. Instead, it was prompted by the boundary changes that would have eliminated his constituency in northwest England.
Ben Wallace was the sole minister in a senior post who remained steadfast during the transition from Boris Johnson's leadership to that of Liz Truss and subsequently Rishi Sunak. He had previously served as the Security Minister under Prime Minister Theresa May before assuming the role of Defence Secretary in 2019.
Throughout his career, Wallace enjoyed strong support from the Conservative Party's grassroots membership and was often considered a potential party leader, though he never actively pursued this position.
In his tenure as Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace played a key role in increasing the defence budget by £24 billion (approximately $31 billion). He believed that higher defence spending was essential in the years ahead due to a growing sense of global insecurity.
Wallace foresaw a more perilous world by the end of the decade, where conflicts, whether cold or hot, would become increasingly likely. He expressed concerns about potential British involvement in conflicts against Islamist groups in Africa and the impact of Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea on regional politics and nuclear proliferation.
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Regarding Ukraine, Wallace cautioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might "lash out" if he faced losses, seeking new targets such as undersea cables carrying Western communications and energy supplies.
Ben Wallace's resignation marks the end of an era in UK politics, and the appointment of Grant Shapps as his successor will shape the future direction of the country's defense and security policies.
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